(2023-12-26) Forged in the Light

Details

Author:	OzmaAsimov
Summary:	Sophiette faces her final trial to become a paladin, charged with destroying the heir to the power of Morbent Fel. As ever, Dara is faithfully by her side.
Rating:	T for Teen

Chain: Light Guide Us

Dara waves at Sophiette.

[Dara]: Hi, Sophiette!

[Sophiette]: Hello, Dara!

[Dara]: Just a few more packages to drop off here, I think… ready to ride?

[Sophiette]: I wonder if we'll ever manage to lift the curse on this place.

[Dara]: One can always hope. Perhaps not us, but someone.

[Dara]: Any news yet on where you're meant to go for your paladin trial?

[Sophiette]: Not yet, but I'm to meet with my superiors soon. I hope that's what it's about.

[Dara]: It must be. *Dara will not admit any alternative reasons.*

[Sophiette]: I told them…about what we did. They were not pleased, but I wasn't disciplined. I wonder if Sir Elohad put in a word.

[Dara]: If he did, that's because he wanted to. I didn't pull any strings.

[Dara]: So if he did, it's because you deserve it.

[Sophiette]: I'll have to try to find out if he did and thank him.

[Dara]: That would be a nice way to build up relationships with your soon-to-be fellow paladin!

Sophiette smiles. "Here's hoping. Light…can you imagine? Being considered in the same company as people like Sir Elohad? Turalyon? Uther Lightbringer!"

[Dara]: Goodness, yes, and well-deserved. They'd learn that in time. What do you think your 'paladin name' might be?

[Dara]: They call Lord Ference the 'Enduring'.

[Sophiette]: Oh, mercy, I have no idea. Honestly…I'm not even sure how that works.

[Dara]: I would hope you get to pick it yourself, or what if it's something dreadful?

[Sophiette]: Pick it myself? Wouldn't that seem a little…egotistical?

[Dara]: Oh, hm. I hadn't thought of it like that.

[Sophiette]: Perhaps I can be Sophiette the Paladin-You've-Never-Heard-Of.

Sophiette grins

Dara giggles. "Oh, I bet ten years from now, people will have heard of you for sure."

[Dara]: I expect our exploits to be impressive.

[Sophiette]: I just hope it's the good sort of fame.

[Dara]: It will be. I'm sure of it.

[Sophiette]: Your confidence is inspiring.

[Sophiette]: I mean that, you know. Your faith in us really is inspirational. It's no wonder you were called to the priesthood.

Dara grins. "I'm just glad you don't think I'm being silly. But I do believe in the things we can accomplish."

[Sophiette]: I don't think you're silly at all.

[Sophiette]: That isn't to say you don't make me laugh sometimes.

Dara giggles.

[Dara]: Sometimes I'm trying to, so I'm happy to hear it.

[Dara]: Well, if you haven't heard anything about your trials by the time we're finished here, perhaps we can go to one of the places my mentors tell me can use some Light assistance.

[Dara]: Maybe it's a good time to check back in with the Cathedral?

[Sophiette]: Alright. They'll want to hear about our progress.

Dara and Sophiette fly to Stormwind to visit the Cathedral.

[Sophiette]: Why do I always feel so tense when I come in here?

Dara murmurs, "Because you're a good person, and you start to think on what you might feel guilty about."

Sophiette dips her head respectfully. "Bishop Farthing."

Sophiette looks to Dara.

Dara curtsies to the bishop politely.

[Dara]: We've spent quite some time assisting in Duskwood, sir. *Dara says politely* The undead and worgen population are considerably lower than they used to be, thanks to us.

Bishop Farthing says: Well done, both of you. On the subject of the increased undead activity…Duthorian Rall wishes to speak with you, Lady Sophiette.

Dara glances at Sophiette with a hopeful raised eyebrow.

Sophiette tenses a little. "Thank you, Your Excellency."

Sophiette takes a deep breath.

Sophiette salutes Duthorian Rall with respect.

Dara whispers, "This could be it."

Dara salutes Duthorian Rall with respect.

[Sophiette]: Sir…Bishop Farthing said you needed to speak with me.

Duthorian Rall returns a quick salute. "Yes, I do. I'm glad you're both here." He nods to Dara, "My Lady, your aid would be most useful in this."

Dara straightens up. "I would be happy to help!"

Duthorian Rall says: Valonforth, the time has come for your final trial. This will be dangerous, but I think you've demonstrated you're equipped for this sort of task.

Sophiette swallows hard. "Whatever is required of me, I'm ready."

Duthorian Rall says: Remnants of the Cult of the Damned yet remain. Our reports indicate that a necromancer of the cult is responsible for much of the increased undead activity you've been dealing with in Duskwood.

Duthorian Rall says: It seems this necromancer got his hands on some of the remains of Morbent Fel, and may have already successfully absorbed his power.

Duthorian Rall says: Morbent Fel was destroyed with a special weapon of Lightforge Iron. Unfortunately, that weapon is likely still in the hands of Cobalt Company, and we don't have time to track it down. We'll need to forge a new one.

Duthorian Rall says: Go to Menethil Harbor and speak with Glorin Steelbrow. He will guide you from there.

Dara salutes him again, unsure if that's what she's meant to do or not.

Sophiette stiffens, standing straighter than straight. "Yes, sir! I won't let you down!"

Duthorian Rall chuckles. "Breathe, Valonforth. Alright, on your way. No time to lose."

Sophiette blushes and nods and salutes again.

Dara puts a hand on Sophiette's shoulder. "We've got this."

Sophiette smiles, finally breathing when Dara reassures her.

[Sophiette]: No time to lose!

Wasting no time, the pair make their way on gryphonback to Menethil Harbor.

Sophiette enters the tavern and glances around, calling out, “Glorin Steelbrow?”

Dara nods. That one looks like a holy dwarf, must be him.

Glorin Steelbrow says: Aye, lass? What can I do for yeh?

[Sophiette]: Duthorian Rall sent us. He said you could guide us to Lightforge Iron. We need to forge a new weapon of it.

Glorin Steelbrow says: Lightforge Iron? I hope there's still enough left to forge another Blessed Arm. The ingots went down with the Flying Osprey, an elvish destroyer wrecked just south of Menethil Harbor.

Glorin Steelbrow says: Start your search there, but I'd wager you'll need to search the waters for enough ingots. Good chance those thieving murlocs have made off with much of it.

[Sophiette]: Thank you, and Light bless you!

[Sophiette]: South…

[Dara]: I suppose we'll have to swim?

[Sophiette]: I imagine so.

[Dara]: Some priestesses can walk on water!

Sophiette grins. "I don't suppose you've learned such a thing yet."

[Dara]: Sadly, no.

Sophiette points to the sunken ship. "The old banner of Quel'thalas. That must be the Osprey."

Sophiette kicks open a rotted chest. "Oh…wow. Look how it gleams. This has got to be Lightforge Iron."

Dara peers at it.

[Dara]: I've never seen anything quite like that. I would believe it can make a magic weapon for killing powerful undead.

[Dara]: Living in the city, I'm not sure I truly appreciated how many murlocs there are in the world.

[Sophiette]: I've never thought about it. Mercy…it must be so many.

Bluegill Raider attempts to run away in fear!

[Sophiette]: I wonder if we smell as bad to them as they do to us.

[Dara]: Oh goodness, we couldn't possibly. Unless there was something wrong with their noses.

Sophiette chuckles.

Bluegill Raider attempts to run away in fear!

[Sophiette]: I think there might just be something wrong with murlocs.

[Dara]: You may be right on that.

Bluegill Raider attempts to run away in fear!

[Sophiette]: I hope there's enough of the metal left since Cobalt Company was here.

[Dara]: There doesn't seem to be much. I suppose Cobalt is thorough.

[Sophiette]: Aye, and who knows who else might have claimed it? Or what the murlocs have done with it.

[Dara]: I highly doubt they've been fashioning weaponry, but… who knows? Maybe sparkly things for their children to look at?

[Sophiette]: I suppose they must steal all their weapons.

[Dara]: They make those little huts, but I do not see them having a lot of complicated crafting ability.

[Sophiette]: Aye. Never seen one working a forge or anything.

[Dara]: That is indeed very difficult to picture.

[Sophiette]: They don't seem very bright. Maybe they tried an underwater forge and gave up.

Sophiette giggles.

Dara giggles.

[Dara]: Can you imagine the steam.

Bluegill Raider attempts to run away in fear!

[Dara]: Oh, I should tell you. I got another letter from Leric.

[Sophiette]: Oh, did you? What news?

[Dara]: Nothing about your father, unfortunately, but things seem to be progressing in Northrend.

[Dara]: He and his people have been bogged down in this place called 'Wintergrasp'.

[Sophiette]: Sound chilling.

[Dara]: But he says he's hopeful they'll force the Wrathgate open soon! Something about titan artifacts they've got to claim or something.

[Sophiette]: Mercy, I hope they can succeed.

[Dara]: Me as well! I don't like to think about him going up to fight at the Wrathgate again.

[Sophiette]: Have they had no luck finding another passage into Icecrown?

[Dara]: No, sadly. Leric says the privateer fleet tried by sea - no luck. And as for land, it's all blocked up by mountains, no luck finding a tunnel.

[Dara]: By which I mean Lady Sintha's brother's boats, of course. The fleet.

[Sophiette]: What about flying overhead? I suppose that would require an awful lot of gryphons….

[Dara]: Apparently there's Scourge that can fly, too.

[Sophiette]: Ah…yes, of course.

[Dara]: The sky is not undefended. *Dara shivers*

Bluegill Raider attempts to run away in fear!

[Dara]: Do you think this is enough metal scrap?

[Sophiette]: Aye, I think this might be all the metal we're going to scrounge up.

[Sophiette]: Let's head back and see what our dwarf friend says.

They swim back to shore and return to the tavern.

Glorin Steelbrow says: How goes the hunt?

[Dara]: There's not much metal left at the shipwreck, but we gathered what we could.

Sophiette displays the lightforge iron they found. "Do you think it will be enough?"

Glorin Steelbrow says: It's a bit scant, I'll admit. But I think this will suffice.

[Dara]: Oh, good!

Glorin Steelbrow says: Go the Dwarven District in Stormwind. Look for a dwarven weaponsmith named Grimand Elmore. He forged the last weapon Cobalt Company used.

[Dara]: He'll know just what to do then.

Glorin Steelbrow says: Aye, just so. Light bless you, ladies.

Dara salutes Glorin Steelbrow with respect.

[Sophiette]: Let's hurry back to Stormwind!

[Dara]: Yes, let's!

They hurry back to Stormwind!

[Sophiette]: Excuse me! We're looking for a Grimand Elmore.

Furen Longbeard says: Elmore! Yer almost there, lass. Keep on the way you were goin' and turn left at the street. His shop's on the right. Can't miss it.!

[Dara]: Thank you, sir!

Sophiette bows her head. "Thank you. Light bless you."

[Sophiette]: This must be it.

[Dara]: This district is so… workmanlike!

Sophiette chuckles.

[Sophiette]: Hello…Grimand Elmore?

Grimand Elmore says: Eh? That'd be me. What can I do for you?

[Dara]: We've brought some light-forged iron. I think you've worked with it before?

[Sophiette]: Glorin Steelbrow of Menethil Harbor told us that you once forged a weapon from it.

Grimand Elmore says: Lightforge iron? My, yes, I did craft an armament of the stuff once. For Cobalt Company, no less! Hah, they were practically just babes in the woods back then.

Sophiette chuckles.

[Dara]: And now they're up in Northrend! Well. We're quite responsible young women, and we need a weapon like that, too.

[Sophiette]: Someone is trying to reclaim the power of the man your weapon was created to destroy.

Grimand Elmore says: Well, that's not good. One Morbent Fel was enough. We've no need of another.

[Dara]: Indeed not.

Grimand Elmore says: Give me the iron. I'll see what I can do.

[Dara]: Thank you!

Grimand Elmore collects the lightforge iron and gets to work. It is a long process, as all smithing is, and certainly doesn't take mere seconds as if by the push of a button.

Dara takes a seat nearby, waiting with mild impatience for their weapons to be crafted.

Grimand Elmore returns to the ladies covered in sweat and soot from his forge, bearing a gleaming scepter.

Grimand Elmore says: Take this. It should shatter your foe's defenses and leave him vulnerable as a mouse.

[Dara]: That's wonderful!

[Sophiette]: Thank you, Mr. Elmore. You honor us greatly.

Dara curtsies before Grimand Elmore.

Grimand Elmore says: The honor was mine to work with lightforge iron again. Now, go do good things.

[Dara]: That, we will!

Sophiette nods firmly and heads out, her spirits bolstered.

[Dara]: We're bound to stop him before he can reclaim the power.

They return to the cursed forest of Duskwood.

[Dara]: I believe the house is right up here.

[Dara]: Oh goodness, it got dark. That's not natural.

[Sophiette]: Light's mercy, this place is grim.

Dara murmurs a prayer of shadow protection.

They enter the former home of Morbent Fel.

[Dara]: this place looks almost untouched. Except for the ghoul bodies.

A harsh voice cuts through the air even as the paladin and priestess cut through the undead.

Raze Vericrook says: Who dares enter my sanctuary?!

The source of the voice comes into view: a man surrounded by an aura of darkness.

[Dara]: Look! That energy!

Dara fumbles with the lightforge weapon.

[Dara]: He's already all… shadowy…

[Sophiette]: We dare!

Dara aims the weapon at him, and there's a flash of Light.

Vericrook’s dark aura dissipates, and he somehow seems diminished.

Raze Vericrook says: Wh-…what have you done?!

Raze Vericrook says: DIE!

Vericook begins to cast a powerful spell, but before he can complete it, the Light of Dara’s faith and the edge of Sophiette’s blade cut his life short, and he crumples.

Dara takes a breath.

[Sophiette]: Well done.

[Dara]: I suppose that's… an end to it. *She looks down at the fallen cultist* We were just in time, it seems.

Dara smiles at Sophiette. "Well done yourself, too. I was mostly support."

[Sophiette]: Stand back…I'm going to burn the body. I don't want to take any chances.

[Sophiette]: This entire house might go up.

Dara backs away.

Sophiette takes a burning ember from the fireplace and places it on Raze Vericrook's robes, setting them ablaze.

[Sophiette]: Let's go.

[Sophiette]: I know it won't lift the curse of Duskwood, but at least things might be a little calmer for now.

[Dara]: At least no cultists causing trouble.

[Sophiette]: Do you think that could be the last of the Cult of the Damned here?

[Dara]: Maybe? We took out the ones in the cave…

[Sophiette]: They're frustratingly persistent.

[Dara]: Anyway, we'll need to report back to the Cathedral.

[Dara]: Trial complete!

Sophiette shivers a little. "I hope so."

Returning once again to Stormwind, they enter the Cathedral.

Sophiette salutes Duthorian Rall with respect.

Dara curtsies before Duthorian Rall.

Dara then hastily salutes. Wrong courtesy.

[Sophiette]: Brother Duthorian…it is done. The man who resurrected the power of Morbent Fel is no more, his body burned.

Duthorian Rall says: Light be praised. I had every confidence in the both of you. Well done.

Dara smiles proudly at Sophiette.

Sophiette beams, her cheeks going a bit red.

Duthorian Rall says: You will be hearing from me soon, Valonforth. I have no doubt you will soon be imbued with the full power and authority of a paladin.

[Sophiette]: Thank you, sir!

Dara claps her hands together in delight. Just once, she's not applauding, though she might want to.

Duthorian Rall gives Sophiette a quick salute and a wink.

Sophiette salutes Duthorian Rall with respect.

Dara backs away from Duthorian, turning to Sophiette.

[Dara]: You're going to be a full paladin! I knew you were worthy.

[Dara]: And before you know it, they'll accept me as a full-fledged priestess!

[Sophiette]: The Light has blessed us both. I don't think I'd have made it this far without you.

[Dara]: This is only the beginning! There's no telling how much farther we'll go, together! *Dara beams*

[Sophiette]: I'd go anywhere, as long as we're together.

[Dara]: I feel the same. *Dara reaches out to take her hand.* We can face anything together.

Sophiette clasps Dara's hand in her own. "You give me strength…just as the Light does. As if…this is the Light's will. We're meant for-…meant to join our…um…our strengths."

Dara blushes, just a little bit, then nods firmly. "We complement each other. When I'm with you, I feel like I'm following the Light's path."

Dara gives a little, hesitant smile. "You never know, maybe it is our destiny."

Sophiette 's voice is quiet, but resolute, "I know it is."